In a surprising turn of events on Thursday, the Sri Lankan parliament came to a unanimous decision by passing a resolution that urged for the removal of the nation’s cricket governing authority. Remarkably, this move received support from both the governing and opposition parties, indicating mutual agreement on this issue.
The leader of the primary opposition party, Sajith Premadasa, introduced a resolution titled ‘the removal of Corruption within Sri Lanka Cricket Management,’ which was supported by the senior government minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The parliament’s endorsement of this resolution occurred two days following the Court of Appeal’s decision to reappoint the leadership of SLC, led by Shammi Silva, on Tuesday.
On Monday, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe took the step of dismissing the SLC management and appointed former World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga to lead a seven-member interim committee responsible for overseeing the cricket board. The resolution seeking the removal of the Silva-led SLC management received bipartisan support, although it does not hold legal binding.
Premadasa stated that the primary objective was to raise public awareness regarding the mistakes that take place within the SLC administration and safeguard the sport from further decline. He emphasized the need for collective efforts to preserve the game for its passionate fan base. Ranasinghe continued to criticize Silva and the SLC management, following his earlier criticism of the court’s decision on Wednesday.
Silva, whose administration secured a two-year term through the May election, has been heavily criticized following Sri Lanka’s substantial loss to host India in the current World Cup, where they collapsed to a mere 55 all out. As a result, the team is no longer in contention for a spot in the semifinals, much to the disappointment of fans.
During the parliamentary debate on the resolution, security measures were implemented, including police protection at the SLC headquarters. One access road was closed with barricades put in place. Near the SLC headquarters, a considerable crowd gathered, demanding the management’s resignation.
